Teachers and Unicorns

Aloha!

Today has been a LONG day, and I am currently supposed to be writing a paper, but I have writers block, so I figured blogging would help. We'll see I guess. :)  

Day 6 - Favorite Professor

This is a hard question because as I have never been to any wizarding school (shocking, I know), I want to learn EVERYTHING!

If I have to choose just one, I would say my favorite professor was Remus Lupin. I am a kinetic learner--meaning I learn by doing. I found his teaching methods to be highly effective. And, let's be honest--the students at Hogwarts never learned as much in one year in Defense Against the Dark Arts as when Remus was professor. (This is of course not counting when Harry taught them, as he was not an official professor, but more of a club president. Along this note, was anyone else disappointed when Harry became an Auror instead of a teacher? I just always thought he would be better suited in a teaching role. He did so well!)

Learning has always been a passion of mine, but can you imagine learning magic? Like actual magic, and it isn't like satanism or whatever weird stuff there is out there. I just think a world with magic would be so awesome. Of course the responsibility of it all would bring the other side of things.

I have always said that there cannot be light without darkness. You couldn't have a world with incredible and fantastic magic without having incredible darkness as well. I don't think that there is another lesson in Harry Potter that I learned as well as along with that incredible power is also responsibility, and when that responsibility is misused, horrible things can happen.

We can see evidence of the misuse of power anytime the news is on. I actually try to avoid news because it makes me so sad, but like Martin Luther King Jr. said, "nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." I guess I better choose something other than ignorance. Haha.

Anyway, I am really starting to worry about my talk on Sunday. I can't say that I have really started writing anything, but I think about it almost every hour. Haha. I'll start on it tomorrow, it's late.

Well dears, that is all for now. I will leave you with this. It is one of my favorite lullabies.

Pillows!

Just an FYI--this post has a real spoiler alert (Like they all don't--Haha!) But, if you haven't read the books, this could actually sort of ruin the series for you. I recommend skipping this post and reading the next one. ;)

Day 5 - Saddest Moment

I know that I may be agreeing with the majority here, but the saddest part of the Harry Potter series was when Dumbledore died. I don't think that I have ever cried that much over a book…even when I read Where the Red Fern Grows. Dumbledore was a huge part of why I loved the books, and I was devastated when he died. I understand why he died and what purpose it served in the long haul, but he will always be one of the ultimate heroes in the book to me.

Things have been sort of crazy lately. I haven't been able to sleep, which I think has a lot to do with my pillow. I really want an Alpaca pillow! (LINK) Look at that thing! It is magnificent!!! I have to admit that I have a thing about pillows. I have like 7 of them, but I am always on the lookout for better pillows! If you have any suggestions, let me know!!! I am a stomach and side sleeper. IDK if that matters, but yeah.

Well, that is it. I hope you re all doing well! I actually get the chance to speak in church on Sunday. I am WAY nervous about it, but I'm sure it will end up okay.

I leave you with a "Harlem Shake" video. SUPER hilarious and random! :)

Knock You Down

Woo Hoo!

I'm posting more than once in a week! Aren't you so proud of me??? Anyway--here is the HP Challenge:


Day 4 - Favorite Villain

Favorite villain, huh? Well, I have a few, but I'll do what I did last time and pick one from the books and one from the movie.

From the books, my favorite villain is Rita Skeeter. I completely hated her in the book. I was so indignant at how she portrayed Harry, and was outraged at how heartless she was! I know that she was not the most evil of the villains in the book, but just the fact that she was lying to the public and they believed her mad em so upset while reading the books. She got hers though.

In the movies, my favorite villain is Snape for sure. Aside from the amazing story that surrounds the character (is he REALLY a villain???), I LOVED Alan Rickman in the role. He did an amazing job of portraying Snape. I loved to hate him! Haha!

Villains in Harry Potter are almost as important as the heroes in the story. Harry would not have grown to be the man he was at the end if it weren't for the Dursley's, Snape, Rita, Voldemort, Wormtail, Greyback, Bellatrix, and everyone else. Those people helped to shape the world that Harry became the hero of just as much as the good guys.

It's the same with our lives. Would I have been happier without some of the villains in my life? Yes. Would I be the person I am today without them? No. I may have become more than I am, but I am happy with where I am in life and what I have accomplished.

I was bullied a lot in high school by a group of people that I considered my closest friends. I won't lie by telling you that I am completely over it, but I do know that I went my own way and have found success on my own terms.

When you are different or special, people can get jealous or angry because you are outshining them. People often will try to knock you down or take what is special about you away. It's hard to stand up to that...especially when you can't see the world past the hate surrounding you. However, I would encourage you to see the world for the beauty that is there. You are special. You are wonderful. Don't let anyone take that away from you. You don't have to be the same as the people around you to find happiness. You can rise above it all and find real joy. Shine the way you are. Things get better. :)

Well, that's it for today. I really hope that you have a fantastic weekend. I was on YouTube the other day and found something that will make some of you smile... :) It is AMAZING!!

On and on

It's a Tuesday, and a post by my good friend Carol reminded me that I needed to blog today. Here is the HP Challenge--

Day 3 - Favorite Character

These are pretty tough! Haha!!! I love everyone in the book. They were written so well...but if I had to choose a character in the book (no movie influence) that is my favorite, it would probably be Hermione. She is the most loyal friend to Harry, and she is amazingly smart and clever. I'm actually surprised that she is in Gryffindor House because she fits the profile of Ravenclaw much better. However, I guess if she was in Ravenclaw that she wouldn't have been able to be a part of Harry's crazy world. You have to wonder if the reason she was sorted into Gryffindor is due to the fact that her, Ron, and Harry's destinies were intertwined. Wouldn't that be cool if the sorting hat knew what would happen and placed Hermione, Ron, and Harry together intentionally, so they could save the planet from Voldemort? It is an interesting thought...

With movie influence, I would say that my favorite is Neville (aka Matt Lewis). Aside from the fact that he came out of the movies the best looking of all of those guys--he was freaking amazing in the movies. It takes a skilled actor to make you think he is a loser, and then flip it on you and become a stud. Seriously. I thought for sure that he was super lame, and that he could/would be replaced later in the movie series...boy was I wrong!!! Haha! He is freaking beautiful!

I also LOVED the first Dumbledore in the movies. He was so loveable and a sweet old man. When they changed directors, I always had the feeling that there was a darkness surrounding Dumbledore's character. Adversely, in the books (even as a darkness actually DID start surrounding Dumbledore), I always felt he was a beacon of light, hope, and positivity. It is interesting how that came across to me--as I am sure many people have completely different opinions.

Anyway, things are pretty cool here.I work, go home and do school...Not really a lot to report. Oh, actually--I do have something! A couple friends and I became screeners for a locally run documentary film festival (www.docutah.com). We are starting tonight, so I'm pretty excited!

Thanks for reading and tolerating my obsession for the Harry Potter series. As a reward, I leave you with this:

Whew!

Well, this week has been crazy. Aside from battling procrastination (which is an hourly battle, let me tell you...) I have had to do school, been doing some side jobs, and have been busy doing regular work too! Hehe! It's all good. I like to be busy. It's tiring, but I figure I'll sleep when I'm dead. I'm also sort of not excited about today's challenge, but here it is:

Day 2 - Least Favorite Book in the Series

Book 2 for sure (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). I have never liked book 2 as much as I like the others. I can't really put my finger on why. It is just...not my favorite at all.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this weekend. I have an awesome wedding to go to, and it's exciting. :) Anyway, have a great weekend and I'll see you on the flippity flop!